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Developing countries, least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to impact of climate extremes, including drought which could lead to water crisis or severe food shortage.

The start of 2019 has been marked by high impact weather in many parts of the world, including record heat, wildfires and rainfall in South America and Australasia, dangerous and extreme cold in North America, and heavy snowfall in the Alps and Himalayas.

Bangladesh is one of the most flood-prone countries in the world due to its unique geographical location, topography and exposure to tropical cyclones. With 50% of the land less than 8 meters above sea level, and a coastline of some 600 km, coastal flooding is a common problem, as witnessed once again in 2017. However, loss of life in the densely populated South Asian nation has been greatly reduced by disaster risk reduction measures and early warning systems.

South-East Europe has experienced a significant number of severe meteorological and hydrological events in recent years. Heavy precipitation has caused floods and landslides. Droughts have increased the incidence of forest...

Fiji is to press ahead with an early warning system for floods. Experts, staff of the Fiji Meteorological Service and Disaster Management Office met in Nadi, Fiji from 12 to 16 November 2018, to discuss the implementation of the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS). The meeting discussed and developed a work plan for the implementation of FijiFFGS, a name chosen to ensure ownership of the project, and show that its applications are specifically targeting the islands of Fiji.

GENEVA 18 May 2017 (WMO) – The World Meteorological Organization has announced « world records » for the highest reported historical death tolls from tropical cyclones, tornadoes, lightning and hailstorms. It marks the first time the official WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes has broadened its scope from temperature and weather records to address the impacts of specific events. The findings were announced just ahead of two major conferences on improving multi-hazard early warning systems and strengthening disaster risk reduction, taking place in Cancun, Mexico from 22 to 26 May and...